Fred Mitchell: Minnis Must Resign Just As Duane Sands Resigned
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Prime Minister Hubert Minnis says he gave permission for a wedding to held in Harbour Island on Saturday, where more than 5 people were in attendance, not adhering to COVID-19 protocols.
The Progressive Liberal Party is calling on Prime Minister Hubert Minnis to resign after he admitted that he gave permission for a “preplanned wedding with more than five in attendance,” over the weekend in Harbour Island, Eleuthera.
PLP Chairman Fred Mitchell said Dr. Minnis should resign like Health Minister Dr. Duane Sands who was accused of breaching protocol.
Mitchell said, “If the Prime Minister were to be judged by the standard that he projected in his speech to his new Ministers in May of 2017, it then stands to reason that he has lost the moral authority to continue to lead on COVID-19 and must resign just as former Health Minister Dr. Duane Sands resigned under very similar circumstances.”
On Friday, Dr. Minnis imposed a weekend lock down, stating among other measures that, weddings that were planned for that weekend were permitted but with only a maximum number of five people including the officiant, in attendance.
A video circulated on social media showcasing a destination wedding on Harbour Island where more than five people were in attendance and guests did not wear masks nor were they practicing social distancing.
Dr. Minnis responded that he gave permission for the wedding to be held “provided that proper COVID-19 mitigation protocols were adhered to,” and has since requested a police investigation into reports that the protocols were not obeyed.
To this, Mitchell said, “The PLP finds it extraordinary and inexplicable that the Competent Authority, the Prime Minister, has taken responsibility by publicly admitting to violating protocols of his own Emergency Orders when he granted permission for not one, but two weddings to take place this weekend.”
Mitchell calls the permission granted by the prime minister, a “display of rank and ‘in your face’ double standards.”
He said Bahamians had to cancel social events planned and scheduled for the weekend at considerable cost while Dr. Minnis gave others “a privileged and free pass.” He said Dr. Minnis has one set of rules for ordinary Bahamians and another set of rules for “the whims and conveniences of party insiders and the well connected.”
